On Coronation Street the following week, Paul goes on one last adventure while spending time outside, Stu helps Mason, Nick confronts Rowan while Toyah receives her results, and Joel is discovered.
1) Paul’s unique day
Next week, Paul (Peter Ash) will receive devastating news that he can no longer leave their apartment safely, marking a significant turning point in his MND battle.
The occupational therapist has advised Paul not to use the stairlift any more after he fell while attempting to use it once.
Paul begs Billy to get the family together at No. 5 at the start of the week since Paul and Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) have turned against their mother Bernie (Jane Hazlegrove) because Kit has been revealed to be their long-lost brother.
With the siblings and their mum back in the same room, Paul plays them a pre-prepared message from his speech machine, reminding them that he is dying and he can’t bear for everyone to be fighting. Right now, he needs his mum more than ever.
When the OT pays Paul a further visit on Wednesday, she insists that it’s time they put their warning into place. Paul no longer has the muscle strength to sit safely in his stairlift.
“Billy and Paul live in a first floor flat,” Daniel Brocklebank explains. “Which means that until they can move somewhere else with a ground floor apartment, which they’re trying to do and they’re on a waiting list to move out, Paul is going to be confined to the flat.”
With the support of his family and friends, it is decided that Paul will go on one last outdoor trip for one more day.
The poignant episode on Friday, which honors Rugby League icon Rob Burrows, who went away last month after his own MND fight, will be told solely from Paul’s point of view as he awakens from a dream to discover that his speech has regrettably gotten worse over night.
Actor Peter Ash’s voiceovers will allow viewers to hear Paul’s inner thoughts as he struggles to express his sentiments throughout the day.
Peter tells us, “I’m so proud to have worked on this episode.” “I could not stop crying, so I knew it was going to be something really special from the moment I read the script!” It was a pleasure to capture Paul’s inner monologue, demonstrating to us that despite MND, the mind remains 100% functional. Everyone that was involved gave it their all, so I hope the audience appreciates it!
Paul and Billy make their first stop on their journey to the church where they were married just a year ago. There, they recollect and enjoy a memorable moment.
Later, the two go to the Rovers, where David (Jack P Shepherd) has figured out a small device to create beer bubbles that Paul can taste without endangering his safety, even though Paul is no longer able to swallow liquids.
Daniel goes on, “I really don’t want to ruin the day by giving too much away because the entire day is amazing.” “It was the most amazing and poignant episode to shoot.”
Not every day is filled with grand gestures or surprises. Billy is probably realizing this already, as are most people, that the little things in life are often the largest. Grand gestures and costly presents are not necessary; what matters most is the small things, the details.
Producer Verity MacLeod tells us, “Paul’s MND has been such an important, powerful story, and this episode is one of the real pinnacle moments in Paul’s journey.” “This is something Coronation Street has never done before; it’s amazing, heartbreaking, hilarious, and lovely.”
Verity continues, “The acting is excellent from all of the cast, but particularly from Peter Ash and Dan Brocklebank.” They really are amazing. Vicky Thomas’s direction and Debbie Oates’ writing are outstanding. We are all really proud of this amazing episode.
2) Stu offers Mason assistance
In other news, Dylan (Liam McCheyne) and Liam (Charlie Wrenshall) were shocked to hear that bully Mason (Luca Toolan) was getting out of jail after spending just a few months in a juvenile detention facility.
Mason was spotted sleeping outside in the precinct’s ginnel, and viewers have already seen him return to Weatherfield.
A terrified Dylan gets ready for his trial shift at Speed Daal this week, and in the precinct playground, chef Stu (Bill Fellows) notices a bloodied and bruised Mason.
“Mason has had a really rough time in the young offenders so he’s filled with mixed emotions,” Luca Toolan explains. “Obviously it’s nice to be out of the hell hole that he was in, but the amount of jip that he’s getting from the residents will be difficult for him to deal with.”
Unaware of who Mason actually is, kindly Stu approaches the teen to see if he needs any assistance. Having only been released for a matter of days, has Mason already fallen in with the wrong people?
“I don’t think that he’s already gotten himself into trouble since being released,” Luca continues. “I think this is the kind of abuse Mason has faced his whole life which unfortunately is what has shaped him into the kind of person he is today.”
“I think once Mason is fully back on screen, we will see little nuggets of things which we will be able to explore further into his backstory and give a clearer insight into his family life.”
With Stu having spent the best part of three decades locked up for a crime he did not commit, he has seen it all, and can recognise that Mason is a troubled young man who could need steering down the right path. Could Stu be the person to do so?
“Oh absolutely,” Luca agrees. “Stu has been there, done that and got the t-shirt and knows exactly what that life is like. I think Stu will see a lot of himself in Mason and could really be a strong father figure for Mason which I don’t think he’s ever properly experienced.”
“Stu knows kids like Mason and I think he will really want to help him turn his life around before it’s too late. With regards to Mason’s family, he clearly doesn’t have someone to turn to which leads to him sleeping rough, so I would love him to have that supportive figure in his life.”
As was inevitable, it doesn’t take long before Dylan’s worst fears are realised, and he finds himself face-to-face with his tormentor.
Luca observes, “I think there’s a lot of pent-up anger between Mason and Dylan.” Mason is likely very angry with Dylan and believes that Dylan is to blame for Mason’s imprisonment because, in the end, Mason made the confession. The first scene was a lot of fun to film and I think it will be really exciting to watch.
Is there any way Mason might try to make up with Dylan for everything he caused him to go through?
“I believe that with Dylan in particular, it all relies on how he handles Mason. Mason, in my opinion, will approach Dylan with an open mind and not completely cut off their friendship.
“Deep down I think he wants to keep a little bit of the door open for him and if Dylan comes forth and tries to make amends then Mason could be receptive towards that. As for everyone else on the street, I think he’s just trying to do right now especially after having a tough time in jail and experiencing a tough life so far.”
“Mason is trying to keep his head above water and do anything he can to survive, if that means playing the nice guy or changing his life around then I hope he will do it.”
But does Luca believe that Mason is capable of taking those steps to become a better person?
“It is possible for anyone to change given the correct circumstances and support system,” he responds. “All it takes for him to change is for one person, like Stu, to put his arms around him and show him that unconditional love.”
“Although there are times that Mason may “betray” people who care for him and maybe not live up to their expectations, it’s all about having that supportive network around him that will make such a difference.
“I think the future is promising for Mason and if he’s in that right environment, he will change. Then again, Mason is a very volatile character and explodes easily so who knows…”
3) Toyah receives her outcomes
Leanne (Jane Danson) is left feeling torn with Toyah’s (Georgia Taylor) revelation that Institute leader Rowan (Emrhys Cooper) was once a criminal and has since changed his name.
When Leanne confronts Rowan, he manages to slyly win back Leanne’s favor, leaving Toyah disappointed in her sister’s gullibility.
Toyah, however, is thinking about something else as she goes to her hospital appointment to talk about the results of her tests and find out if she really has ovarian cancer. When Nick (Ben Price) shows up in the waiting area, Toyah is moved, and she braces herself for the worst as they go in to meet the consultant together.
When Nick decides to go with Toyah to another appointment later that week, they embrace in the waiting area, and Nick notices a man trying to sneakily take a picture of them.
Nick, who has already been blackmailed by Rowan for a picture of him and Toyah kissing, is convinced that Rowan is the one responsible and goes to face him at an Institute event at the Chariot Square Hotel with his brother David.
Will Nick make a decision that he later regrets?
4) Jack is bullied
Over at No.13, Jack (Kyran Bowes) finds himself ridiculed by schoolmates over the deepfake videos featuring his stepmum Abi (Sally Carman-Duttine).
Abi had just left Weatherfield to visit the twins in Essex and escape everything, and all the evidence seemed to point to Stefan Brent (Paul Opacic), the killer Corey’s father, being behind the tapes.
When she returns to the street the following week, she is resolved to move past Stefan permanently. But the videos are still up online, and Jack is now the one who has to deal with it.
Debbie (Sue Devaney) intervenes to stop her nephew from being taunted, pointing out that the films are phony. Following a heart-to-heart conversation, Jack asks Debbie to swear she won’t tell Abi or Kevin (Michael Le Vell) that he is aware that the videos exist.
Later, during a business meeting, Stefan enters the hotel, shocking Debbie. How is she going to act?
5) Joel is caught out
Elsewhere, a pregnant Lauren (Cait Fitton) is still at Joel’s (Calum Lill) mercy after she reluctantly agreed to accept help from him. Lauren is determined to move away for a fresh start in Ireland, and wants Joel to pay for it, but he has managed to so far delay her departure by having her move in to his old flat.
Joel needs to clear Lauren out of the way since Michael (Ryan Russell) and Ronnie (Vinta Morgan) are being called in to transport a chest of drawers from Joel’s previous residence to Dee-Dee’s (Channique Sterling-Brown).
Joel offers Lauren some cash so she may go shopping, but when they return later, Ronnie notices that the refrigerator is still stocked with single-serve meals. Joel, how are you going to explain that?
Later in the week, Joel assures Lauren, who is quite bored, that she will be traveling to Ireland at the end of the week. Desperate for some normalcy, she goes to visit Max at the Platts in the interim.
6) Kit examines No. 5.
The landlord of Gemma and her husband Chesney (Sam Aston) has listed No. 5 for sale, therefore they are currently in danger of being evicted. The couple is at the back of a long waiting list for accommodation provided by the authority, despite their need to locate a dwelling big enough for them and their five children.
When Gemma says that the landlord has scheduled a viewing for a prospective buyer for that afternoon, she is not happy. However, Summer (Harriet Bibby) is taken aback when she later passes by No. 5 and witnesses the estate agent explaining Kit inside.
Is Kit going to evict his sister from her house, or is he up to something else?
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